BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

01/05/2007

Belarus Solidarity Cycling Tour

Auteur: Louis-Sebastien Jacquel-Blanc Bron: European Centre for Eco Agro Tourism Projects

Raising awareness about environment and nature is always difficult. Even more when the country is known as "the last dictatorship of Europe". Although it became independent in 1991, its president still governs the country in an authoritarian and restricted way. Nevertheless, Belarus realizes that opening itself to abroad and to tourism can be very useful.

As a first step, the European Centre for Ecological and Agro Tourism (ECEAT) has managed to organize a "solidarity cycling tour", which will bring together volunteers from Western Europe and Belarus. Lasting thirty days, but divided into three periods of ten days, the expedition will cover about 800 kilometers of beautiful eco-corridors and typical villages.

Cycling one day out of two, the thirty volunteers will dedicate the rest of their time to meetings, workshops, discussions and debates with the local population. They will each be specialized in a subject, which they will have to work on. ECEAT wishes to lead Belarusian people to achieve private initiatives for sustainable tourism and protection for nature and culture.

Source:

http://www.oneworld.nl/index.php?page=4_2&articleId=11346